TechCrunch Mobility: Google’s Gemini is coming to your car, chaos comes for Luminar, and the Amazonification of Uber 2.0

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Okay, those who left their bet General motor Being spotting landing for Aurora Co-founder and chief product officer Sterling Anderson? I’m not But we’re here. A few days after Anderson declared his resignation From its location and the board of AroraraHe talked to me about him Next gig as the main product officer At GM. In short, he will oversee the entire product line of GM’s gas-powered and electric vehicle-a location that will cover the entire life cycle of GM’s portfolio and include hardware, software, service and user experience.

Anderson couldn’t say too much; Also, he has not yet started the work. Anderson said that if Aurora still doesn’t turn it on, he will not accept the new job Commercial self-driving truck service In Texas.

Let’s jump on the rest of the news.

A little bird

The absolutely wild twist of events, LightIts founding Austin Russell The CEO and the board of the board seem to be pushed. You can Read my coverage hereWhich provides some overview of how it was revealed, but I know there is much more to this story. TL; DR: If you just read Luminar’s Q1 earning report, you will assume that Russell was still in the helme. In a separate press release published with the company’s earnings, the leadership change was announced and Russell resigned after investigating the morality of the board’s audit committee.

Here is what I’m listening from a few small birds. The word “Blindside” came multiple times and the chaos was not over. Luminar June Hong HungWho is the founder and chief investment officer of Crescent Cov advisors and a consultant of Russell, Quit one day laterThe Heng was also on the audit committee.

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Deal!

Aurora A few weeks filled with height – driverless commercial service ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo – and twist – ophs, Go there a co-founderThe To stop things, Uber announced to plan to plan Offer $ 1 billion in exchangeable senior notes In the Personal Placement in 2028. As you can expect, investors have decreased about the potential decrease and what it means about the value of Aurora stock.

Other Deals that have attracted my attention …

AutonoifiThe latest startup which has turned out of it Up. Labs-backs Partnership, Raising $ 5 million Seed money. Santa Monica, California -based startup, which strengthens their activities with manufacturers and software vendors with dealerships and service shops, has been silently operating for almost nine months.

Chinese battery manufacturer Catal Far away from a startup. However, this banana IPO plan is notable. The company wants to raise at least HK $ 31.01 billion – It’s only 4 billion dollars shy – On the Hong Kong list. This is the largest list worldwide in 2025.

Here is a Possibility Deal that has raised some eyebrows. Federal Railway Controllers are in the discussion Elon musk‘S Tunneling firm, Boring agencyOn a Millions of billions of amtrak projectsThe

JerkFret brokerage, the truckload located in California, Raising $ 60 million In a series e funding round led by O’Nell Strategic Capital. Suskahana also participated in the Private Equity Investments, Signalfire, GLP Capital Partners and Bracket Capital.

Significant lessons and other TDBITS

Autonomous vehicle

TeslaThere are plans to launch a Robotaxi service in Austin next month Federal security has attracted the attention of investigatorsThe The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of Error Investigation Office has sent a detailed list of questions to its upcoming Robotacy Service as part of the investigation as to how the software works on short-viewing terms of the company’s “Full Self-Drivesting”.

Revibisients have begun to pop up more in the AV sector. It was last week JamexThe Now Wemo There is Issued a software recovery Some of these are involved in 1,200 self-driving vehicles after robotaxis is involved with roadway objects like gates, chains and other gates.

Whiride Looks like trying to ramp in Guangzhou. The Chinese company has said that it has turned on Route of eight autonomous robotuxi pilot operations In the central part of the city. The agency has also started to trial completely driverless robotaxis DhashiThe

Electric vehicles, charging and battery

General motor Has been done to a job New battery chemistry Lithium is called manganese-rich, which has said that the costs of supplying the driving range should be slash. Significantly, these LMR batteries dramatically reduce the amount of nickel and cobalt compared to the most advanced cells in GM, two critical minerals that are not easily available from domestic sources in the United States.

A footnote LucidIts recent Q1 regulatory filing gives some more insights in the sales number. EV Maker’s record has received a lift from the quarter Lease the rent and company leaseThe

Slate Rack has been up More than 100,000 reservations For its customized lowly expensive electric pickup trucks.

Everyone, let’s let a slow clap Toyota Re -design – and more importantly, naming – of The US marketThe EV, once known as BJA 4X, will now be only BJ. The original BJD 4X has not been well received. I am looking forward to the wheel to see what Toyota has improved. Meanwhile, there is Toyota C-HR brings back the nameplateBut this time as EV. Hopefully this time it is more successful. It comes to the United States in 2026.

Gig Economy

Three years ago, Reporter Rebecca Belan mentioned this Uber Was Going with an AmazoniizationThe The company that had his pitch AmazonCustomers created a closed business loop to return to other Uber channels. The The second part of that evolution has begunHe has reported this week. Uber transport and a convenient super app, a convenient super app, service aginger of service, a daily-use lifestyle platform with a daily-use lifestyle platform with his best offers with his best offers with his best offers, with a pa-wal-wallet piece of pieces in pieces of pieces to pieces. Tap

Flight

US lawmakers introduced the supersonic aviation modernization law to amend FAA’s 52 year ban on supersonic flight Our soil May be important for the timing startup Boom supersonicWhich has made progress in the development of the next generation supersonic aircraft

Vertical space Announced plans A. A. Hybrid In its VX 4, suggests that the company is following opportunities in defense and supplies.

In -car tech

AppleThe next generation of its popular carplay infotainment software is finally launched. Reminder: It was first declared three years ago. The new version, called Carplay ultraWill make her debut in the new Aston Martin Vehicles in the United States and Canada.

Google In the next few months, Gemi, its generator, is bringing AI to all the vehicles that support Android Auto. Android VP Patrick Brady for cars says Jemine will be present in Android Auto experience In two main waysThe